Is the GOP still a viable national party?

Republican Party Election Day Watcher Ribbon, 1904 (Photo credit: Cornell University Library)

Herewith, an essay arguing that the GOP lost the White House in 2012 because it abandoned its conservatives and went with a "Mr. Milktoast" candidate:
http://personalliberty.com/2014/01/13/the-gops-losing-strategy/

Yes, the Republican Party can win Congressional seats with Tealiban candidates, thanks to gerrymandering.  But move to a statewide contest and it gets a lot tougher for a right winger to win.  That's because many key states have sharply divided populations.

For example, we have always said in Pennsylvania that the Keystone State is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between. Illlinois is upstate v. Downstate, was is Ohio to some extent.

Get into a national election and the problem for a rightist GOP candidate is magnified.  Ergo, the party needs to nominate someone nearer to the center…as do the Democrats for that matter. 

This is why Christie's crash-and0burn may be so damaging to the party's prospects in '16.

Related articles

• Something funny about the Tealiban?
• Gospel According To Rove: Tea Party Shalt Lose, But GOP Wins In '14
• GOP Rep Fights Party's Gay Candidates
• ISSUES 2014: Battle for the soul of the SC GOP (with poll)
• Can the GOP leave well enough alone so Dems get pummeled in 2014?
• To GOP primary voters, even wanting to fix Obamacare is a liability
• What Happens When Billionaire Donors Die Off? Texas GOP Is About To Find Out
• GOP Path to Senate Majority Runs Through Tea Party
• TRUTH about the national GOP... the Republicans ten...
• Arizona's Republicans Censure John McCain